#8 Texas Tech @ Texas

Who will WIN this matchup?

#8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-2)

@ Texas Longhorns (11-6)

Current odds:

Texas Tech Red Raiders: (-170)

Texas Longhorns: (+150)

• The line for this game is Texas Tech by 3.5 points.

• No. 8 Texas Tech and host Texas have a lot of similarities as they prepare to meet Wednesday in Big 12 action. Both teams feature tough defenses and both have been shaken by injuries to key players. “Just like a lot of us, us included, (Texas has) dealt with some injuries, some adversity, some guys they were counting on not being with them,” second-year Red Raiders coach Chris Beard told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “But that’s life in the Big 12.” The Longhorns are without Kerwin Roach (hand) and Andrew Jones (leukemia) while Texas Tech recently announced senior Zach Smith has a broken foot and might miss the rest of the season.

• The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (66 points per game) and rebounding margin (plus 7.6) while Texas’ ability to block shots can change opponents’ plans. The Longhorns have won 21 straight at home against the Red Raiders dating back to the start of the Big 12 Conference.

• Keenan Evans leads the deep Red Raiders with 17.5 points and a team-high 3.4 assists. Freshmen Zhaire Smith (10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds) and Jarrett Culver (9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds) continue to contribute and Florida transfer Brandone Francis is coming off a career-high 17 points against then-No. 2 West Virginia. The Red Raiders allow league opponents to shoot 41.8 percent while forcing 13.6 turnovers.

• Dylan Osetkowski leads the Longhorns with a 15.1 scoring average while freshman Mohamed Bamba adds 11.8 points and a league-best 10.4 rebounds. Eric Davis Jr. (8.8 points) is averaging 20 points on 60 percent shooting off the bench in the two games since Jones’ diagnosis was announced. Freshman Matt Coleman is averaging 12.2 points and 7.2 assists in league play and freshmen Jase Febres (6.8 points in league play) and Jericho Sims (4.2 points in league play) are continue to get more playing time.

• Texas hasn’t lost back-to-back games since falling to then-No. 1 Duke and then-No. 17 Gonzaga – both in overtime- at the PK80 Tournament in November.

• Bamba – ranked second nationally with 4.5 blocks – has at least two blocks in all 16 games and at least four blocks in 14 games.

• Zach Smith (6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds) was limited in two games by an ankle injury and foul trouble before hurting his foot Jan. 6 against Kansas State.